60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Dartmouth

Dartmouth

2018-19 Record: 13-17-4 (10-9-3, T-5th in ECAC)
Head Coach: Bob Gaudet, 23rd Year
Top returning scorers: Quin Foreman (13G-15A) and Drew O'Connor (17G-9A)
Top returning goaltender: Adrian Clark (Sr.)

Sometimes Dartmouth hockey can get overlooked. It's weird to say given the Big Green - America's Team - have one of college hockey's best social media presences, but that does not always translate to discussing Dartmouth's on-ice play in Hanover, NH. The team hasn't been the most buzzworthy Ivy for either good or bad reasons. They haven't recently contended for an ECAC title or NCAA Tournament berth yet haven't been in the conference cellar either.

That can also materialize in being overlooked for awards and honors. So let's dig in and discuss Dartmouth hockey itself rather than photos of dogs and nicknames.

Dartmouth enters 2019-20 in a familiar spot. While the record is slightly down thanks to a worse non-conference slate, once again the team finished tied for fifth in ECAC with 23 points. (The postseason repeated as well - beating St. Lawrence in three before losing to Harvard.) Adrian Clark, who became the sole #1 starter after platooning with Devin Buffalo, was nowhere in the middle. On one hand, he was fourth nationally with a Dartmouth-record six shutouts. On the other hand, Clark had seven games where he gave up four or more goals.

The Big Green returned 83% of its goals from 2017-18 and ended up improving upon that total. One big reason for the improvement on offense? Freshman forward Drew O'Connor.

Of returning ECAC players, only Clarkson's Harald Egle had more goals than O'Connor's 17. Still, O'Connor ended up not being named to an All-ECAC team, not even making the ECAC all-rookie team.

What's New: Six freshmen join Gaudet's team. Four of the six play on the blue line, including Tanner Palocsik and journeyman Jack Cameron, who has gone from his native Novia Scotia to New England to the BCHL during his juniors career. Palocsik was named the NCDC MVP for his play with the USPHL's New Jersey Hitman.

Dartmouth hosts St. Lawrence, UConn and Colorado College in the always-prestigious Ledyard Classic. The past two champions each reached the Frozen Four.

Additionally, November 9th marks Darmouth hosting Princeton and the eventual tossing of tennis balls in one of college hockey's weirdest traditions.

Closing Thoughts: For the most part, the Big Green is a good example for a team in the middle of this series. It's easy to discuss what has been going wrong for the bottom 20. It's easy to discuss what has been going right for the top 20. It's not so easy to discuss the highs and lows of mediocrity.

Sure, that's also one of the reasons why Dartmouth's social media presence is so fantastic. It gets us to discuss a team that would get lost among 20 others. However, that doesn't always bring forth the on-ice accomplishments outside of upsetting Denver or routing Quinnipiac.

The challenge for Dartmouth this season is going to be an improvement to where someone like O'Connor, who had goals in six of his final seven games, does not get overlooked by the Ivies and ECAC alongside linemates Will Graber and Quin Foreman. Do the freshmen defensemen step in immediately and help Clark?

Can the team stand out and avoid the same exact finish for a third straight year?

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